Irish Potatoes, A Candy Recipe (2024)

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Irish Potatoes is a traditional candy recipe from Philadelphia. This no-bake candy recipe has just 6 ingredients and is a super simple St. Patrick’s Day dessert.

Irish Potatoes, A Candy Recipe (1)

It makes significantly more than what you can order from specialty stores and tastes just the same (but fresher). Good thing, because there are a number of people in my circle whose ears perk up when they hear Irish Potatoes.

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Is there actually potato in this candy?

Despite the name, Irish potatoes candy do not traditionally come from Ireland and they don’t have any potato in them. They get their name from being shaped like a potato and their color – creamy white interior with a dirty brown exterior.

This no-bake, no-cook confection is traditionally made with powdered/confectioner’s sugar, cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and coconut. This mixture is then rolled into a lumpy “somewhat circle/somewhat oblong” potato shape and then rolled in ground cinnamon to coat them.

If they aren’t traditionally from Ireland then where do they come from?

As I noted in the intro, Irish potato candies are actually a staple St. Patrick’s Day treat that hales from Philadelphia, PA. The exact origins are a little unclear but they seem to have become popular in Irish neighborhoods and grown from there.

The most popular brand isOh Ryan’s, who reportedly sells over 80,000 pounds a year. You may also see Irish Potatoes with a See’s Candy label, but they are a different confection all together. We’re keeping it simple and original. You can buy them online*, but why do that when you can make them so inexpensively and easily at home?

How should I store them?

Because they are made with a mixture that includes cream cheese you should store them in the refrigerator. They can keep up to a couple weeks but I dare you to try keeping them that long. They are so good, they won’t last. Plus, they taste better fresh.

Can I half-size this recipe?

Yes. This is a super easy recipe to cut in half or double, or whatever you want to do. Note that you may not be able to cut the amount of cinnamon in half but you can easily start with less cinnamon and add more as needed.

Is there a trick to shaping them?

Shaping the Irish Potatoes can be a messy job. I shape a bunch of them using about a tablespoon of mixture for each one. Then wash and dry my hands.

Next, I shake them in a bowl of cinnamon one at a time. Then I drop them into a 16-ounce glass one at a time and shake them in the bottom of the glass to shake off excess cinnamon and smooth out their shape.

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Irish Potatoes Candy

Irish Potatoes is a traditional candy recipe from Philadelphia. This no-bake candy recipe has just 6 ingredients and is a super simple St. Patrick’s Day dessert.

  • Author: Heather McCurdy
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 36 1x
  • Category: Dessert

Ingredients

Scale

  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 8 ounces softened cream cheese
  • 8 tablespoons butter
  • 5 cups sweetened flake coconut
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Cream together butter and cream cheese until well mixed.
  2. Mix in vanilla.
  3. Add powdered sugar, 1/2 at a time.
  4. Mix until forms a ball or is just mixed. Don’t keep creaming it after it is incorporated.
  5. Use a spoon of spatula and fold in coconut.
  6. Put cinnamon in small bowl.
  7. Shape coconut mixture into roughly shaped 1 inch balls.
  8. Roll in cinnamon.
  9. Place on parchment paper covered cookie sheet.
  10. Chill.
  11. Keep refrigerated.
  12. Makes approximately 36 Irish potatoes.

Notes

A note on shaping the candy: I shape a bunch of them using about a tablespoon of mixture for each one. Then wash and dry my hands. Next, I shake them in a bowl of cinnamon one at a time. Then I drop them into a 16-ounce glass one at a time and shake them in the bottom of the glass to shake off excess cinnamon and smooth out their shape.

Keywords: irish potatoes, irish potato candy,

Irish Potatoes, A Candy Recipe (3)

Originally published March 3, 2014

Irish Potatoes, A Candy Recipe (4)

Heather McCurdy

Heather McCurdy writes at Real: The Kitchen and Beyond where she shows families how to slow down and savor life on any budget with tasty homemade recipes and family travel.

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  2. I love some potatoes, but I think I’d love these even more!

    Reply

    1. The ingredients mention nothing about cream cheese or butter… am I missing something? I’ve read through it 3 times.. but… only one cup of coffee today. :/

      Reply

      1. Oh my goodness. I don’t know what happened! It WAS there. It must have dropped out when I switched my recipes over to a new recipe system.. I will get that put back in there.

        Reply

    2. I’ve been making theses for 4 years now and I make them with only 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 10 people asked for the recipe. They all said they were not too sweet as most are

      Reply

      1. I’m glad to hear you found a recipe that works for you. How do you keep them from being too sticky and maintaining the right consistency so they stay together?

        Reply

  3. These ALWAYS remind me of my Grammy, they were her favorite. These ar so fun to make and even better to eat. Yours looks scrumptious!

    Reply

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  6. Gorgeous and Yummy! One of my favorite treats:)

    Reply

    1. Thank you.

      Reply

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Irish Potatoes, A Candy Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Irish potato candy made of? ›

The candies have a coconut cream inside (generally made from some blend of coconut, confectioner's sugar, vanilla, and cream or cream cheese) and are rolled in cinnamon on the outside, resulting in an appearance reminiscent of small potatoes.

Does potato candy need to be refrigerated? ›

Potato candy does not require baking and is instead refrigerated in order to fully harden the candy, though it can stay at room temperature following the refrigeration process. Most sources indicate that the potato candy has a shelf life of roughly one to two weeks.

Why is this candy named after a potato? ›

The Roots of Irish Potato Candy:

Contrary to its name, Irish Potato Candy contains no potatoes. This sweet creation is more about clever confectionery than tubers. Its roots can be traced back to the late 19th century when Irish immigrants in Philadelphia sought to celebrate their heritage in the United States.

Is Irish potato the same as sweet potato? ›

Irish potatoes and sweet potatoes are two different types of potatoes. In Nigerian meat pie, Irish potatoes are used as a filling ingredient, while sweet potatoes are not commonly used. Irish potatoes, also known as white potatoes, are starchy potatoes with a white-colored flesh.

What does Irish potato contain? ›

Carbohydrates: About 26 grams. Dietary Fiber: Roughly 2 grams. Vitamin C: Over 20% of the recommended daily intake. Vitamin B6: Around 10% of the recommended daily intake.

What type of potato did the Irish eat? ›

Potatoes were eaten at all levels of society, but in different guises. Irish people have traditionally preferred floury potatoes to waxy varieties.

What country did potato candy originate? ›

Potato candy came to the U.S., somewhere around the turn of the century, reportedly from Germany.

Why is my potato candy runny? ›

If your potatoes are still warm when you add them to your mixture, there's a good chance they'll melt your butter and your sugar, resulting in a watery dough that you'll have to toss out. Add more sugar as needed.

Who invented potato candy? ›

Irish immigrants might have invented them, possibly trying to jump on the opportunity Pennsylvania presented as a candy-making hub. They could've been an accident — a coconut cream Easter egg dropped in cinnamon, perhaps.

What candy is named after a cow? ›

Cow Tales® are chewy candy snack sticks made of caramel and filled with cream – Not made from real cows' tails. Original Caramel Cow Tales® come in the standard 1 oz. stick size as well as smaller Cow Tales®​ Minis.

What candy is named after a horse? ›

Candy magnate Frank Mars named the Snickers bar after one of his horses. He raised horses on Milky Way Farm.

What is the candy with butter in the name? ›

Sort
  1. Peanut Butter Candy.
  2. Butter Toffee.
  3. Butterscotch Candy.
  4. Butter Rum Candy.

What is Irish potato called in America? ›

Solanum tuberosum (Irish Potato, Irish Potatoes, Pomme de Terre, Potato, Potatoes, White Potato, White Potatoes) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.

What is the healthiest potato to eat? ›

Which Potatoes Are the Healthiest?
  1. Purple Potatoes. Purple potatoes are packed with beneficial plant compounds, including anthocyanins (a type of antioxidant). ...
  2. Red Potatoes. Red potatoes are an excellent source of flavonoid antioxidants like quercetin, kaempferol-rutinose, catechin, and rutin. ...
  3. Sweet Potatoes.
Mar 5, 2024

Which is healthier sweet potato or Irish potato? ›

In terms of micronutrients, boiled sweet potatoes come out on top in terms of vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, iron and phosphorus while the regular potato wins when it comes to potassium, Vitamin B1 and folic acid.

What is traditional Irish candy? ›

Woppa bars (a spearmint chew bar, like a spearmint flavour roy of the rovers bar) Ritchie's milky mints (chewy sweets like nearly hard toffees but milk white and minty as hell,) Toffos (chewy sweets made of various flavour toffee, original, mint, and liquorice are the ones I remember)

What are sweet potato balls made of? ›

If you never tried Taiwanese Deep Fried Sweet Potato Balls before, it is crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. All you need is THREE simple ingredients, Yam, Sweet Potato Flour, and sugar; THAT'S IT! What is this? A Gluten-Free dessert that you need to try!

Why did the Irish only eat potatoes? ›

Why were potatoes so important to Ireland? The potato plant was hardy, nutritious, calorie-dense, and easy to grow in Irish soil. By the time of the famine, nearly half of Ireland's population relied almost exclusively on potatoes for their diet, and the other half ate potatoes frequently.

Why are they called Irish potato? ›

We call them Irish potatoes because the potato was first brought back to Europe in the 1500's and developed as a crop there. The Irish immigrants brought the culture of potato to the United States.

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